For Immediate Release:

January 26, 2016

For More Information:
Chuck Beeler, EMA
(315) 413-4346
CONSENSUS COMMSSION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT MODERNIZATION RELEASES
PRELIMINARY REPORT CONTAINING 50 RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE GOVERNMENT
MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
Press Conference Scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Today at Beauchamp Branch Library
Series of Public Meetings Scheduled to Hear From Onondaga County Residents
Public Input Process through March 16 Will Guide Final Report to be Released in April
SYRACUSE, NY -- Consensus, the commission on local government modernization, today
released its Options Report & Preliminary Committee Recommendations to the community.
The report, which culminates 18 months of research and public input on local government,
outlines opportunities to reduce the cost of governance, improve services and promote greater
economic growth in Onondaga County.
With the release of the report, Consensus begins a six-week public comment period (January
26 March 16), in which it will facilitate and document input from Syracuse-Onondaga residents
through a series of public meetings and online via a new website,
www.consensuscomment.com, as well as through Facebook and email. Based on the public
input, the Commission plans to publish a final report by the end of April.
The size of government and the cost to taxpayers in Onondaga County keeps growing while
the tax base falls and the business climate inhibits economic growth. This path is
unsustainable. We need to do better. This report provides a framework for the community to
make substantive changes in the way we govern and promote economic growth, commented
Neil Murphy, co-chairman of Consensus.
The Options Report includes over 50 recommendations for every level of
government in Onondaga County -- opportunities to improve service delivery and
reduce costs through proven approaches and best practices that could include:

Creation of a new metropolitan government via opt-in referendum

Shared purchasing and training agreements
Shared maintenance and planning of infrastructure and assets
Creation of centrally-managed metro authorities, agencies, departments, and service
areas
Adoption of common software and digital recordkeeping systems

Increased state assumption of responsibility for public benefit programs

-more-

Consensus Release
Page 2-2-2
The Consensus commission, which includes 19 civic, business and local government leaders, is
led by co-chairs, Murphy, who most recently served as president of SUNY College of
Environmental Science and Forestry; Catherine Richardson a retired attorney with the firm
Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC.; and former Congressman James Walsh.
Commission members were represented on five committees, each of which issued findings in
the report. A sixth committee, Public Engagement, is charged with directing the public input
process. Committee findings in the report focus on the following areas:
Infrastructure Street and highway maintenance, water, wastewater, solid waste collection
Public Safety Fire protection, emergency medical services, police and corrections
Municipal Operation - Tax assessment, financial administration, courts, code enforcement,
clerk, social services, public health and libraries
Economic Development - Fiscal and economic relationships among the Countys
governments, as well as the land use and policy
Governance - Overarching structure of local and regional governance
We need to rethink and rebalance government at all levels towns and villages
and county and city to deliver services in more effective and efficient ways. Weve
studied and talked with other communities, like Indianapolis, Louisville and others,
who have been through this and are now reaping the benefits of increased
economic growth and opportunity. Working together as one community we can
make this happen here in Onondaga County, said Walsh.
Public Input Is Critical
The Consensus report is not final, rather its a starting point for further community
dialogue, according to Catherine Richardson, co-chair of Consensus. Its important
for the community to know that no decisions have been made, and no proposals
have been approved. We need public input to complete the process. The final
recommendations published in April will directed by the comments we receive over
the next six weeks, she explained.
The Consensus commission is coordinating a variety of ways to elicit citizen input
during the January 26 March 16 public comment period, including hosting a series of
public meetings throughout the community to present the findings and field public input. The
first meetings will be held on February 1 at the Southwest Community Center and the DeWitt
Community Library.
A full list of all meetings is available on the new Consensus public engagement website,
www.consensuscomment.com. The website, which is available in English and Spanish
versions, also has downloadable versions of the Options Report and a condensed summary of
the report. The public is encouraged to visit the website to submit comments. This input will be
collected and considered for the final report.

-more-

Consensus Release
Page 3-3-3
Comments are also being accepted at www.facebook.com/consensuscny, as well as via email
at info@consensuscny.com. Respondents are asked to include name and city, town or village of
residence of the person making the submission. Calls to 315-470-1980 will also record
comments.
After the public comment period has concluded on March 16, the Commission will reconvene to
review the input collected and begin work on completing a final report to the community, which
is due to be published by the end of April.
Consensus was formed in 2014, with the support of county and city government leaders and a
$250,000 state grant, secured by Sen. John DeFrancisco with support from Sen. David Valesky.
Consensus was also designated $25 million in Upstate Revitalization Inititiative funding, which
will be used for our local governments to implement reforms, beginning in 2017.
The establishment of the commission has received broad support from the
community. Together, SYRACUSE 20/20, CenterState CEO, FOCUS Greater Syracuse,
the League of Women Voters of Syracuse Metropolitan Area, Onondaga Citizens
League and the Homebuilders & Remodelers Association of CNY called for the
creation of a local government modernization commission. It was also one of four
key initiates outlined in the regions business plan The CenterState Agenda for
Economic Opportunity. To learn more about Consensus, visit:
www.consensuscny.com.
Consensus Commission Members:
Co-Chairmen:
Cornelius (Neil) B. Murphy, Former President, SUNY ESF
M. Catherine Richardson, Retired Attorney, Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC
James T. Walsh, Government Affairs Counselor, K&L Gates LLP
Members:
Aminy I.Audi, L. & J.G. Stickley, Inc.
Laurence G. Bousquet, Bousquet Holstein PLLC
William M. Byrne, Byrne Dairy
Mark Nicotra, Town of Salina
Donna DeSiato, East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District
Darlene Kerr, Niagara Mohawk (ret.)
Patrick Kilmartin, Onondaga County Legislature
Melanie W. Littlejohn, National Grid
Andrew Maxwell, City of Syracuse, Office of Policy and Innovation
Stephen Meyer, Welch Allyn, Inc.
Dennis Nave, CNY Physician Teamster Alliance
Mark Olson, Village of Fayetteville
Sharon F. Owens, Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility
Ann Rooney, Onondaga County
Bea Gonzalez, Syracuse University

###